Apple challenges UK government’s latest demand for iCloud backdoor: report
Apple has appealed a new legal demand by the U.K. government, which critics say could threaten the privacy rights of users all over the world.
Tech
Apple finally fixed Siri. So why does it feel anticlimactic?
Apple’s long-awaited AI overhaul finally makes Siri the assistant it was always supposed to be. But after years of delays, the launch lands in an AI landscape where chatbots have evolved into agents that can code, reason, create media, and complete complex tasks. Siri AI is genuinely useful, yet it arrives at a moment when simply being a capable AI assistant no longer feels revolutionary.
Outernet turns your saved posts into real-world adventures
Founded by the creators of viral offline events like San Francisco’s citywide scavenger hunt Pursuit, Outernet’s app helps users save places and events they discover online, then nudges them to actually go.
Europe’s AI labeling and transparency rules are now in effect
The European Union has ushered in some additional rules that aim to make it easier for people to identify chatbots and AI deepfakes online. The new transparency obligations under the bloc’s landmark AI Act came into effect on August 2nd, requiring companies to disclose when people are interacting with AI models, and if content has […]
The first-gen Kindle Scribe is a big e-reader and digital notebook that’s $150 refurbished
The Kindle Scribe is worth considering if you’re heading back to school, as its large 10.2-inch screen can display textbooks and ebooks, or let you jot down handwritten notes during class. Now through August 8th, the first-gen model (with a Premium Pen) is down to just $149.99 with 16GB of storage in refurbished condition at […]
Sequoia’s Shaun Maguire leads $1B round for nuclear startup Valar Atomics
Valar Atomics raised $1 billion at a $6 billion valuation after signing a development deal with Nvidia in June.
Base Power raises another $1B to save the grid using backyard batteries
Base Power’s $1 billion round will help the startup ramp production of its home batteries.
Congress’s favorite AI tool? ChatGPT
House spending records show OpenAI’s ChatGPT dominates paid AI use on Capitol Hill, with congressional offices relying on the chatbot to draft memos, summarize legislation, and assist constituent communications.
Microsoft is bringing Xbox 360 games to PC
Building on its recently announced plans to bring original Xbox games to PC, Microsoft is also planning to let developers bring their Xbox 360 games to PC as well, according to a leaked document, seen by The Verge, that was sent to developers recently. Xbox 360 games will be able to run on the next-gen […]